Police close all roads in and out of Eilat as flooding intensifies
Several highways closed as storms batter Arava and Negev desert regions, effectively cutting off southern resort city from the rest of Israel; airbase damaged by the harsh weather
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Eilat was cut off from the rest of the country Saturday due to flooding, with police closing all highway access to the southern resort city as heavy rains continued to batter the region.
The storms began Friday night and continued unabated into Saturday, causing major floods throughout southern Israel, where the desert landscape is especially susceptible to severe weather and flash floods.
Flooding along several sections of Route 90, the main highway that passes through southern Israel’s Arava region, forced the full closure of the city’s northern exit, police said Saturday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Routes 12 and 40 — the only other main roads connecting Eilat to the rest of the country — were also closed amid flash flood warnings.
Videos posted to social media showed hundreds of cars backed up along Route 90, as thousands tried to return home from weekend trips to Eilat.
With all three highways blocked, authorities urged drivers to exercise patience and follow police instructions, adding that updates will continue to be issued through media channels.
פקק כבד מעיר אובות ועד צומת הערבה על כביש 90 צפונה.
צילום- גיל שביט pic.twitter.com/B5AS3KCsry
— A dios Le pido ???? (@Yaronara) December 6, 2025
The Israel Meteorological Society also issued flash-flood warnings in the Judean Desert, Dead Sea and eastern Negev regions.
Due to the harsh weather conditions, the military reported damage to “infrastructure and communication systems” at the Ovda Airbase in the Negev.
The base is used by the Israeli Air Force for training, and it also houses the Border Defense Corps’ school.
“There is no impact on operational readiness,” the Israel Defense Forces said, adding that commanders are “conducting damage assessments to ensure a quick and safe response to the malfunctions.”
The stormy weather was expected to continue through Saturday evening, with clearer skies forecasted for Sunday and the early part of next week.
The Times of Israel Community.